Burning sulphur



May wgzs. 1,4552@- H. S. DAVIS BURNI NG SULPHUR Filed Jan. 2l 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR May l5, w23. Y v lAfSZ- H. s. DAVIS BURNING SULPHUR Filed Jan. 21 1922 2 Sheets-sheet 2 v I F .3., 72 2 W y l a j x y 'f v., 1 10 i' 'J5 I I: l RF1/'14M l L M- '1,3 I IIIJW 9m/14M LUN l l l Y J3 I L lHlifl4v-L I Il 75 m LA lf l l Bf-74M i I t l Il! u 25 Y M 1 y l lf u 9 INVENTOR Patented ay l5, 19213.

'araur carica.-

HARLD S. DAVIS,I OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN'OB, T0 T l i SULPHUR COMPANY, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A COBIORATION 0F T E55 BURNING SULPHUR.`

Application filed January 21, 1922. Serial No. 530,790.

To all whom z't may concern; Y

Be it known that I, HAROLD S. DAVIS, a `citizen of the-Dominion of Canada, residin at Pittsburgh,` Allegheny' County, Penn- 5 sy Vania, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in Burning Sulphur, of

whlch the followin is a full, clear, and exact description, re erence being had to the accompan ing drawings, forming part of thisspeci cation.

The presentl invention relates to burning sul `hur and more particularly to a method an apparatus for burning crude sulphur containing impurities, such as traces of oil,

` which would otherwise render it not free burning. A

Pure sulphur is free burning. However,

the presence of certain organic impurities, particularly traces of petroleum which occur in the crude sulphur obtained from the deposits in the Gulf States of the United States, prevents such sulphur from being free burning. After ignition of the oil-containing sulphur, a film of carbonaceous ma-V terial or asphalt spreads over the surface,

and eventually extinguishes the fiame, although the sulphur is only partially consumed. The oil reacts with the sulphur and forms the thin film .of asphaltic material which' spreads over the surface. The ignition temperature of this film is so much higher than that of the sulphur or the temperature developed duringthe burning of the sulphur, that the film is not ignited, and

consequently, the whole iiame is extinguished. Traces of oil amounting to onl ,1% or .2% are suilicient to render the su phur not free burning. It has therefore heretofore been genera ly regarded `as impossible to bun this oil-contaminated sulphur in an ordinary pan burner, and even in special devices, such as the rotary or cascade burners, the combustion of oil-contaminated sulphur presents some diculties.

I have discovered that certain materials have a peculiar accelerating effect on the burning'of sulphur and may be used to render the oil-contaminated sulphur free burning.l Among the materials whichlI have, up to the present time, been able to investigate and have found to have this effect, are asbestos, magnesia and certain types of porous vknown to thetrade as nonpareil this Wick-like brick, such as the heat-insulating brick brick.

Other materials, such as magnesium carbonate, infusorial earth and fullers earth, possess the same property, but to a less de ree. These materials are capable of absor ing and apparentlv exert a wick-like action on the melted sulphur. The fibrous structure of some of the materials, such as asbestos and magnesia, apparently greatly assist in absorptive action on the sulphur. They are also poor heat conductors, so that lthe heat generated at the burning surface is not conducted away rapidly enough to 'reduce the temperature below the ignition point. These materials also appear to have some surface or catalytic action in accelerating the combustionv ofthe sulphur. The materials are preferably incombustible. I have found that if the sulphur is placed in a vessel made of or lined with one of these combustion-accelerating materials, the sulphur isrendered free burnin Instead of putting the material in a vesse lined with such material, I have also put pieces of the material in oil-contaminated sulphur and burned it in an ordinary earthenware dish. For example, if pieces of asbestos or magnesia insulation are added, the flame will continue around them until the sulphur is practically all burned.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a pan burner embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View showing the invention applied toa cascade burner; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the invention applied to a rotary burner.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the burner consistsof a sheet 2 of sulphur combustionaccelerating material, preferably asbestos. T'his'sheet is formed into a pan-like shape to hold the sulphur in a pool as it melts. It is mounted on suitable legs 3, so that the air has access both above and below the pan. The crude sulphur 4 is preferably piled around the edges ofthe burner with some sulphur in the middle. The combustion of the sulphur isstarted preferably at the middle of the pan by a hot iron or by a ,along the piece of paper or in any other way, As the sulphur burns, 'it melts and runs down forming a. ool 5 in the middle of the pan. Soon a. ter the sulphur begins to burn, the

asphaltic Afilm will appear, but the sulphur ,will continue free'burnng where the burning surface is close to the asbestos. As the pool in the center of the pan increases .1n depth, the asphaltic film may temporarily stop combustion on the deeper parts of the pool. However, combustion continues actively around the edges of the pool. Meanbelow, leaving finally a light ash remaining in the asbestos pan. which can be readily shaken out Vbefore -the next lot of 'sulphur isv to be burned. If desired, the asbestos pan may belstrengthened mechanically by ribs or a netting ofaluminum or other material which is not attacked by the burning sulphur.

The invention may also be applied to the usual form of cascade sulphur burners. A cascade burner comprises an outer casing 10 having holes 11, for the admission of the air, and an outlet 12 to conduct off the sulphur dioxide fumes. Across vthe inside of the casing 10 are placed a number of trays 13, upon which the sulphur is burned. The unmelted sulphur is placed upon the top tray and as it melts runs down through the openings 14 to the lower trays. The openings 14 are staggered. The usual practice Vhas been to make the trays of metal, relying upon the agitation of the dripping sulphur and the heat transmitted from ene tray to another to keep up the combustion. I have found, however, that if the trays 13 be made of a sulphur combustion-accelerating material, such as asbestos, the sulphur can be burned more rapidly and completely than with metal trays.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated the application of the invention to a rotary burner. The rotary burners are used in establishments where the amount of sulphur.` used warrants the expense' of installing and maintaining them. A rotary burner consists of a horizontally mounted rotary drum 20, having air inlets 21 and an outlet 22 for sulphur dioxide gas. The drum is continuously rotated -by gearing indicated at 23. Sulphur' is generally-charged into the end 24 of the' drum. The melted sulphur forms a pool in the bottom of the drum. The continuing rotation of the drum agitates this pool-and the rising side of the drum exposes a fresh surface freed from the flame-desdening asphaltic film. I have i claims.

improved .the rotary type of burner by lining it with a sulphur combustion-'accelerating material, preferably asbestos. In the drawing,'this lining is indicated by the reference numeral 25. 70 While I have described the invention and its practical embodiment as best known to me at the present time and from the investigations which I have so far been able to carry out, it is to be understood that lI do mt intend to limit the invention to the l specific materials which I have so far been able to investigate, as other specific' sulphuraccelerating materials having the characteristics of the materials 'alreadyl investigated may be found on further investigation. The present invention is therefore not limited to the specific steps or materials herein disclosed, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the' following I claim: l

1. The improvement in the burning of sulphur which comprises maintaining the sulphur freely burning by associating with the sulphur a sulphur combustion-accelerating material.

2. The improvement in the burning of sulphur which comprises maintaining the sulphur freely burning by associating with the sulphur a material porous to melted sulphur.

3. The improvement in the burning of sulphur which comprises maintaining the sulphur freely burning by associating with the m0 sulphur a material which has a wick-like absorption for melted sulphur.

4. The improvement in the burning of sulphur which comprises maintaining the sulphur freely burning by associating with the sulphur a poor heat conducting material which has a wick-like absorption'for melted sulphur. I l

5. The improvement in the burning of sulphur which comprises maintaining the suluo phur freely burning by associating with the sulphur a material having a combustion accelerating surface or catalytic action 'on the sulphur.

6. The improvement in the burning of sul- H5 phur which comprises maintaining the sulphur freely burning by associating with the sulphur a non-combustible material which has a wick-like absorption for melted sulphur.

7. The improvement in the burning of sulphur which comprises maintaining the sulphur freely burning by-associating with the sulphur a non-combustible mineral fibrous material.

8. A sulphur burner comprising a` surface of sulphur combustion accelerating material, substantially as described.

9. A sulphur burner comprising a poor heat-conducting surface which is porous to 130 melted sulphur, substantially as described.

10. A sulphur burner comprising a Vsuriace which has a. wick-like absorption for melted sulphl, substantially as described.

heat-conducting porous surface which has a wick-like attraction for sulphur, substan` tially as described.

12. A sulphur burner comprising a fibrous incombustible melted su1phur-absorbing material, substantially as described.

13. A sulphur burner comprising a pan of sulphur combustion-accelerating material, substantiall as described.

14. A su phur burner comprisin an as- 16 bestos pan, substantially as describe sulphur` burner comprising a poor l5. A sulphur burner comprising a sheevI of incombustible porous material for holding the sulphur and having its lower surface exposed to the air to permit combustion of sulphur soaking through the sheet, substantiallyas described.

16. A sulphur burner comprising a sheet of asbestos having its lower surface exposed to the air to permit combustion 'of the sulphur soaking through the sheet, substantially as described.

In testimony-whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD S. DAVIS. 

